Instructed patient about vacuum assisted closure ( VAC ) therapy the length of time to heal a wound is different for every patient. General conditions, size and location of the wound, and nutritional status can affect the time it takes for a wound to heal. Your clinician will discuss when and why V.A.C. therapy may begin and end.
Instructed patient unlike gauze bandages that merely cover a wound, V.A.C. therapy actively works to help the wound healing process. The V.A.C.therapy system helps: promote wound healing, provide a moist wound healing environment, draw wound edges together, remove fluid and infectious materials, reduce wound odor, reduce the need for daily dressing changes.
Instructed patient abour the V.A.C. therapy System is an Advanced Wound Therapy System consisting of a V.A.C. Therapy unit that delivers negative pressure and a sterile plastic tubing with SensaT.R.A.C, pressure sensing lumens that connect the therapy unit to the dressing Special foam dressings. KCI recommends the V.A.C. Dressings be changed every 48 to 72 hours, but no less than 3 times per week. Patient has the ability to move around depending on the condition, the wound location and type of therapy unit prescribed. The V.A.C. Therapy System may be disconnected so you can take a shower. Therapy may not be off any longer than two hours per day.
Instructed patient when should I call my clinician when on V.A.C. Therapy: immediately report to your clinician if you have any of these symptoms: fever over 102°, diarrhea, headache, sore throat, confusion, sick to your stomach or throwing up, dizziness or feel faint when you stand up, redness around the wound, skin itches or rash present, wound is sore, red or swollen, pus or bad smell from the wound, area in or around wound feels very warm.
SN put on non-sterile gloves. Remove old dressing. Remove gloves and place them in the trash bag, Wash hands and put on a clean pair of gloves. SN cleaned wound with NS solution using gauze pads, checked wound for signs of infection. Then opened new foam sponge dressing, cut it to size, and place it in the wound. Open the drape package. Cut the drape to the size needed. Place the drape over the wound site. Smooth the drape as you stick it around the wound to prevent any wrinkle that may leak. Connect the tubing to the sponge dressing and the tubing to the pump unit. Open the clamp on the tubing. Turn on the VAC pump. Listen and watch for leaks.